{"id":61,"date":"2021-12-25T14:56:24","date_gmt":"2021-12-25T14:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hograce.org\/english\/?p=61"},"modified":"2021-12-25T15:57:12","modified_gmt":"2021-12-25T15:57:12","slug":"rules-to-serve-the-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hograce.org\/english\/2021\/12\/25\/rules-to-serve-the-lord\/","title":{"rendered":"Rules to Serve the Lord"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rules to Serve the Lord<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Wang Mingdao<\/em><\/h2>\n

Merely attending theological school, reading about mission outreach, learning to teach and minister in church, or studying Bible are not sufficient to carry out God\u2019s work. To do His work, one needs to understand and preach the truth in the Scripture. But more important is holiness, love without false pretense, forgiving heart, resolute will, keen insight, courageous spirit, perseverance, and humility.\u00a0These inner qualities are not learned from the theological schools but are brought about by God through tribulations, sufferings, and setbacks. Only those who are willing to undergo God\u2019s pruning can expect to be God\u2019s vessels fit and useful in His sight. Unless we cleanse ourselves of the following vices, we cannot do any work for God, let alone be a leader in the church.<\/p>\n

Greed arises by earthy fortune, flattery when comes across opulence and power, love for the worldly greatness and vanities, seeking the ostentatious display of oneself, jealousy of the capable and virtuous, engrossment in self-interest, and also practices of hypocrisy, manipulation, and lies are some of the worst vileness. Unless such dregs can be completely removed and cleansed from within, one cannot and should not do God\u2019s work, let alone be a leader in the church. A believer with these characteristics will bring enormous harm to others instead of saves. He ruins the church instead of builds. He brings disgrace to God\u2019s name instead of glorifies. A church would be better off and better served without such workers. Countless churches have been brought to irreversible corruption as a result. The importance of being holy in order to serve Him must never be slighted.<\/p>\n

Using worldly or humanly means to do God\u2019s work may achieve some level of success. However, they are usually superficial and transient. Ultimately, it brings total havoc to God\u2019s work. This is one of the primary reasons that numerous churches today have fallen beyond recovery.<\/p>\n

Proclaiming God\u2019s salvation and sharing personal testimony is something all Christians can do and should do. But the interpretation and teaching of Bible should not be practiced lightly unless one has spent years in earnest search and study of his words and will. Interpreting His words at will is dangerous and it may bring about grave errors and twisting of the Scripture truth. As the Scripture truth becomes further distorted, it leads to even greater deviation and damage. Be warned that this is a danger that can happen to some earnest Christians.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s laborer is also His ambassador. He is in a position of honor and bears enormous responsibilities. To be deserving of such honor, he must not bend on principles or deviate from truth to please. He must not flatter to gain favor or riches. He should not degrade himself by his own deeds or words. He should stand firm and should not cater to others every wish just to please or be agreeable. He should not ask for favors lightly. He should not seek sympathy from others. More importantly, he should not solicit financial support. Some have suggested that the purpose of preaching is to earn a living. This is not only ignorant but also an absolute insult to God.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s laborer should be courteous, but should not waste an inordinate amount of energy, money and time to entertain and socialize. Such activities will not nourish, but impair, one\u2019s spiritual life and work.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s worker should not act or speak in a manner only to spare the feeling of others at the expense of God\u2019s words or truth. Those who are concerned about how they look in other people\u2019s eyes cannot do God\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

He should not preach things that he himself does not believe or does not intend to practice. Otherwise, he is deceiving others and he is a hypocrite.<\/p>\n

Those starting out in the ministry should alert and not rely on the flesh. Those who have been in the ministry longer should be on guard against learning to be slick. Those who rely on the flesh will meet failure and obstacles. However, from those experiences, they can overcome the fleshly tendency. But falling into the trap and habit of slick demeanor is incurable and therefore more deadly.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s worker should not compromise with sin, nor should he compromise with the world. He should not make concession to false prophets and teachers. He must not be concerned about offending men. If he is afraid to offend people, he will not be able to bring people to Christ.<\/p>\n

Money, fame, and romance are three of the most effective entrapments often used by Satan on men. He can use any one of the three to completely destroy God\u2019s workers. To serve Him, one needs to be warmed of Satan\u2019s devices and be extra cautious.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s worker needs to rebuke sin but still treats others with tenderness.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s laborer does not need letters of recommendation from others. He does not need to promote himself. God will provide the recommendation. \u201cAs Samuel grew up, the Lord helped him and made everything Samuel said came true. From the town of Dan in the north to the town of Beersheba in the South, everyone in the country knew Samuel was truly the Lord\u2019s prophet.\u201d (1 Samuel 3:19-20) Samuel is our example.<\/p>\n

Those who are fearful can not accomplish God\u2019s work. Those who fear insults, slander, offending others, suffering loss, difficulties and dangers should leave the ministry.<\/p>\n

Only those who are incorruptible by wealth and position, unswayed by poverty lowliness, and unyielding to power and force, can be His workers of power.<\/p>\n

A good worker of His, other than attentively study Bible, he must be observant and attentively study people as well. Many workers, loving, faithful and devoted, are deceived or used by others simply because they fail to read people with discernment. Consequently, God\u2019s work and church suffer.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s worker should stay clear of sin but should know when others sin. He should be free of deviousness and should recognize the deviousness of others. Only then, can he rebuke sin, warn people and help them stay away from sin.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s worker should be a blazing fire. He sets fire everywhere he goes. He warms those who need comforting and encouragement. He scorches those who need cleansing and warning.<\/p>\n

Do not worry about what others might say about you as long as our Lord Jesus calla you His \u201cgood and faithful servant\u201d.<\/p>\n

Wang Ming Dao<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rules to Serve the Lord By Wang Mingdao Merely attending theological school, reading about mission outreach, learning to teach and minister in church, or studying Bible are not sufficient to carry out God\u2019s work. 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